Colonic irrigation why do it

During a colon cleanse, the hygienist inserts a tube into the rectum while you lie on a table. What are the benefits? But is there any truth to these claims? What are the risks of a colon cleanse? There are several risks to be aware of before you try a colon cleanse. These risks include:.

Dehydration Infection from contaminated instruments or facilities Electrolyte imbalance in the colon Tears in the bowel. Read: Dodging a Colonoscopy? Still want to try a colon cleanse? Hoffman suggests talking to your doctor and making sure you know your unique risk. What are some proven ways improve colon health? Tags: Expert Advice. Popular Categories. Popular Topics. It might seem trendy, but colonic irrigation — the process of flushing out the bowel with water — has been practised since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians.

But just because humans were doing something 3, years ago doesn't necessarily mean it's good for you. So what is colonic irrigation, and does it live up to the various wellness claims that are made about it?

Colonic irrigation, also known as colonic cleansing , colon hydrotherapy or transanal irrigation , involves a tube being put into your anus and flushing out your bowel with water. It's often performed at specialty wellness clinics as well as by medical professionals.

Colonic irrigation differs from an enema in that a lot more water is used, whereas enemas are a single injection of fluid not always water into the anus.

Fans of colonic irrigation say it can help with things like bloating, irritability, low energy, managing weight, and general detoxification.

But, he said, when experts have pulled together all the available evidence from various studies, there doesn't seem to be any clear benefit. On the whole, Dr Ho said colonic irrigation was pretty safe, but there are certain conditions that make the procedure potentially harmful. People with conditions like haemorrhoids , anal fissures , inflammatory bowel disease , diverticulitis and other conditions that affect the anus or bowel are at risk of injury from either the tube used in the procedure or the water that's introduced into the bowel.

Extra water being introduced into your body can also put pressure on your kidneys , which could cause problems for people with kidney issues. The thing is, you could have one of these conditions and not know about it, Dr Ho said. There are other considerations, for example, if people have a history of sexual abuse or are at risk of self-harm. Flushing out the colon also affects beneficial gut bacteria that live in our digestive tracts and contribute to your overall health in ways science is discovering more about every day.

No, actually. There are a few groups of people it's very beneficial for, namely those with bowel dysfunction. Bowel dysfunction can result in chronic problems like faecal incontinence , where people have difficulty controlling their bowel movements, or severe constipation.

It often happens in people with conditions like spina bifida, multiple sclerosis and spinal injury, where issues with their nerves mean their digestive system doesn't work as well as it should.

Your body already has great detoxifying machinery in the form of your liver and kidneys, and your gut is already really good at expelling waste. But if you feel like you've been giving these organs more than their fair share of work recently, there are ways to give your body a break without resorting to special procedures. One of the ways is to look at your diet and exercise and, in some cases, medications administered by a health professional.

The Food and Drug Administration requires colon hydrotherapy systems to meet certain requirements and has not approved any of them for nonmedical purposes, such as colon cleansing, according to a article by several physicians published in MDedge Family Medicine , a news site for family physicians. The devices are required to receive premarket approval for any uses beyond their original indications preparation for endoscopic procedures, such as colonoscopies, and radiologic procedures and has issued several warning letters to manufacturers of colon hydrotherapy systems that have not received premarket approval for use for colon cleansing, according to MDedge Family Medicine.

In addition, Wolf said that colon cleanses are particularly risky for people with kidney disease or heart problems because these individuals already have trouble maintaining fluid balance in their bodies, and the electrolyte shifts caused by colon cleanses could be an issue. People with gastrointestinal problems, such as Crohn's disease a condition involving inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract , ulcerative colitis which involves inflammation in the large intestine , and recurrent diverticulitis in which a person develops inflamed pouches in the wall of the colon also have increased risks of problems resulting from a colon cleanse.

Colon hydrotherapy is also potentially unsafe for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, because of the possible risk of a puncturing a hole in the bowel, as well as for anyone who's had prior colon surgery or severe hemorrhoids, Wolf said.

Trillions of bacteria live in the colon, and eliminating them or changing the population of beneficial and harmful bacteria in that organ could be a problem. Some of the good colon bacteria play a role in keeping bad bacteria at bay. Scientists don't know if colon cleanses and colon hydrotherapy disrupt the bacteria in the colon or cause an imbalance in the microbiome, Wolf said.

Laxatives, enemas and colon hydrotherapy have risks, but what about colon-cleansing methods based on dietary changes alone? A third method of colon cleansing involves trying to purify the colon by consuming certain foods and liquids. A juice cleanse, for example, might involve drinking only juice — often unpasteurized "raw" juice — for several days.

A fiber-based cleanse would involve a diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The existing research reports that "juicing and 'detox' diets can cause initial weight loss because of low intake of calories but that they tend to lead to weight gain once a person resumes a normal diet," the NCCIH stated.

Wolf recommends that green leafy vegetables and high-fiber foods be included as part of a healthy diet, in general. But there's no clear evidence to suggest these foods are beneficial in the form of dietary colon cleanses, she said. Additionally, drinking only juice for several days is not a balanced diet. According to the NCCIH, some juices contain high levels of oxalate, a waste product expelled from the body in urine that is also found in high levels in some foods, such as spinach and beets.

Drinking lots of high-oxalate juice can increase the risk of kidney problems, according to the NCCIH. University of Michigan Health warns that too much oxalate can cause kidney stones in some people. Further, juices that haven't been pasteurized may contain bacteria that could make people sick, according to the NCCIH. As for fiber "cleanses," these sometimes amount to eating the recommended daily dose of fiber. Recommended intake of dietary fiber is 38 grams 1.

Unlike a juice cleanse, a fiber-based cleanse is not restricted to one type of food, and a high-fiber diet actually does have health benefits: It can relieve constipation, promote regular bowel movements, and some research suggests that it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to the NIH.

Studies have also found that people who eat more fiber, which adds bulk without calories, tend to consume fewer calories and weigh less. So if eating a diet with sufficient fiber counts as a cleanse — and WebMD does liken eating the recommended daily dose of fiber to cleaning out your colon with a toothbrush — then a dietary colon cleanse centered around fiber is one that experts do recommend.

This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to offer medical advice.